Olivia Rodrigo is a way bigger punk than we thought. In her Rolling Stone cover story, the “vampire” singer credits Rage Against The Machine as one of her major songwriting influences on her sophomore record, GUTS. Her new record, which dropped last Friday, is chock-full of gritty guitars and witty spoken-word lyrics that cut like a knife alongside the songstress’ blunt wordplay. Rodrigo says that Rage Against The Machine is the major influence behind the opening track, “all-american bitch.” “I have been listening to so much Rage Against the Machine this year,” Rodrigo shares. “That’s my favorite band right now.… Read more »
September 8 is a spectacular new music Friday for alternative fans. Between Olivia Rodrigo launching her brand-new sophomore album GUTS and Motionless In White releasing the deluxe version of 2022’s Scoring The End Of The World, it’s fair to say we will be busy streaming new songs all weekend. Beyond the deluxe album, Motionless In White shared a new music video for the track “Sign Of Life.” The new music video sees Chris Motionless adding a pop of color into the dark metalcore world of the band with spiked, vibrant purple hair. True to the song’s name, the video depicts… Read more »
Have you ever felt like the bad guy in a breakup? Not My Weekend expresses the complex emotions that come with that situation in their new single, “OtherSide.(Break.Up.Song).” The guitar-driven track blends the nostalgia of your Myspace era with today’s pop-punk sound. From a Hellogoodbye-esque autotune effect in the bridge to a clean, plucky verse riff, “OtherSide.(Break.Up.Song)” finds the balance between nostalgia and new. Vocalist Patrick Gilchrist sings, “Long nights in the rearview mirror/Like sugar on my tongue/This is how it goes when it all goes wrong/Now I’m on the other side of a breakup song.” This vulnerability, paired with… Read more »
Olivia Rodrigo has impressively managed to successfully outdo herself once again with the release of her sophomore album GUTS. The album is officially out just in time to ride as an emotional rollercoaster through all of your fall activities. These songs are sure to be the soundtrack of leaves changing, campfires, pumpkin spice coffees, and hoodie weather. It’s one of those records that when you revisit it in ten years, you’ll be transported back to the memories you made this autumn season. Olivia Rodrigo has managed to expand her iconic sound on GUTS. While her first record SOUR boasted mostly… Read more »
A year and a half following the sudden and tragic passing of their vocalist, Keaton Pierce, Too Close To Touch have issued their new single “Hopeless” featuring The Word Alive’s Telle Smith. This track not only serves as a tribute to Keaton but also stands as one of the last recorded works featuring his unmistakable vocal delivery. Additionally, “Hopeless” represents the group’s first new single since the release of the “Complain” remix in 2021, and it arrives as a poignant posthumous birthday gift to Keaton, who would have been 34th birthday on September 3. The band, with heartfelt sincerity, shares… Read more »
Alternative songstress Sydney Sprague is going on her first-ever headlining tour this fall! Sharing the tour flyer with her fans this afternoon, the Somebody In Hell Loves You Tour will begin on the West Coast and take Sprague across the country to perform for her fans. The humorously titled tour is also the name of her second full-length album, set to drop on September 15 via Rude Records. Sydney Sprague will kick off the tour in San Diego, CA, on November 9 and stay on the road through December 15, where she’ll conclude in Phoenix, AZ. While this run marks… Read more »
Shallow Pools have become a scene favorite in the last year. From their recent signing with Equal Vision Records to their appearance on our very own Tate Logan’s Punk Goes Pride, the band is showing no signs of slowing down. Today, they announced their debut full-length, I Think About It All The Time, which drops October 13. To celebrate the news, Shallow Pools released their new single “Nightmare,” giving listeners a sneak peek into the record’s mature sound. Combining distorted guitar riffs with pulsing synthesizers, “Nightmare” is reminiscent of Maroon 5’s Songs About Jane both sonically and in its attitude.… Read more »
Leading up to the release of their sophomore album Reflections, idobi had the opportunity to sit down with Caskets’ frontman Matt Flood to delve into the band’s creative journey. Their debut album, Lost Souls, came to life during the pandemic, a time of uncertainty and innovation. Flood reflects on this period, discussing how the unexpected lockdown found the band in a shed recording everything on the debut collection. This experience, although unconventional, taught them valuable lessons in resilience and adaptability before venturing into their sophomore LP. Across Reflections, it’s evident that Caskets forged unity amongst themselves, allowing for a more… Read more »
Marking their triumphant return in 2023, Broadside unveils their latest single, a collaboration that sparks with the magnetic energy of Josh Roberts from Magnolia Park. Together, they ignite an explosive synergy that resonates through every electrifying note. This unexpected alliance injects the track, aptly titled “Bang,” with an invigorating essence that ensnares listeners in its allure from the very first chord. “Bang” resonates with a fusion of melodic pop-punk and powerful vocals, showcasing both Broadside‘s and Josh Roberts’ exceptional talents. The dynamic interplay between Broadside‘s anthemic sound, fronted by vocalist Oliver Baxxter, and the distinct vocal style brought by Roberts,… Read more »
Just ahead of the release of their seventh studio album Hard Reset, The Word Alive frontman Telle Smith stopped by the idobi Studios in North Hollywood and told me why the latest era of the band truly is a… hard reset. From a recent lineup change to signing with Thriller Records—a new label created by Fearless Records founder Bob Becker—Hard Reset is inspired by self-reflection in a shut down world, a fresh start within the band’s camp, and a new perspective for Smith following a healthy break-up. The Word Alive have taken their years of experience within the… Read more »
